Mmmkay Maiko, I gotta say it makes sense why you would have rainbow cruise on the list, as a way to balance things out, I can see that point of view now. However, some of your arguments I will have to debate,
1. Your very first point, "You define starters as stages that attempt to be as neutral as possible in as many matchups as possible, right?" No, I don't. When I say neutral, I mean the stages cause no gameplay interference, nothing altered, the match is based solely on a person's skill, and the character they chose to play. Sure Brawl has an unbalanced character system, but that doesn't mean I cant chose to be whoever I want. Lets say, for the sake of argument, it's the first match in a set, I call blind picks, If i chose link, and luke choses falco, well that is just a poor decision on my part. But it doesn't take away from the fact that because Final Destination (for example) is a pure flat ground, the match depends solely on our respective skill as players. It's not Final Destination's fault Falco can chain grab me across the stage, in fact, it's my fault for chosing a weaker character, or, even Brawl's fault for being so unbalanced.
Now I understand, more starter stages, and more stage striking can balance out the game a bit, however thats the point of counterpicks is it not?
2. I didn't give specific scenarios for PS2 because I really was too lazy to think about it, I was just typing that up on a whim. But if you really need one, the conveyor belts: Brandon choses sonic, I chose marth, none of us have an advantage on this stage, however, when the conveyor belts come, Brandon cant use his classic spindash/spindash cancel to upair on me, (and lets face it, thats all he does
) So he's hindered hugely at that point. And I don't know about you guys, but I do not like being stuck in the air when theres a sonic trying to up B to me and upair me to my death when im trapped due to the windmill section.
Now I get it, "just strike it" you right, so I guess I can't really argue that point.
3. Because you got your first argument wrong (my definition of a starter stage), your point about me contradicting myself is false.
4. It will hinder us because we'll be used to picking counterpicks that facilitate our victory during our tournaments, but not prepare us for mainstream counterpicks.
EG. Luke goes meta, You go PT, Diddy, I dunno, If you beat luke the first match, he can counter pick you to port town, and greatly facilitate his win.
OR, I lose against Alvin first match, hes MK, I go Pipes, It makes my life a lot easier to beat him.
These are examples where we could possibly be winnning only due to the stages that favor us, now I know thats what a counterpick is, but if you throw me against alvin in an MLG match, I don't know what to counterpick anymore, because I normally just take him to Pipes. Now my natural counterpick that I feel gives me the greatest chance, is rendered useless, and I need to go to a more unfamiliar stage.
Yes, it's true thats why we must practice, but when most of us are preparing ourselves for the RPS tourny, We will prepare ourselves for the RPS rules, which will change the game completely compared to how the world plays it.
